Tom Brady and the NFL players union have reportedly made an effort to settle the quarterback’s Deflategate suspension – but the offer has been met with silence from the league.
ESPN reports that Brady, who is scheduled to miss the first four games of the season, is holding firm on his refusal to accept any suspension, though he would consider accepting a fine.
Brady was banned for four games by Roger Goodell after the NFL found the quarterback was “at least generally aware” that New England Patriots officials had deflated balls in their AFC Championship victory over the Indianapolis Colts in January. The team was fined $1m and, stripped of its first-round draft pick in 2016 and its fourth-round pick in 2017. The Patriots accepted the punishment, but Brady considered his personal suspension unduly severe, and appealed against it in June.
ProFootballTalk reported on Wednesday that progress toward an out-of-court agreement between Brady’s side and the league has been minimal, and that the likelihood of a settlement, in the event Brady’s punishment is upheld in full, is low.
The league is reportedly close to releasing the findings of the appeal. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk said “it would be unexpected” if the two sides reached a deal.
On Tuesday, however, Goodell said he has no definitive timetable for a decision on Brady’s appeal.
“There is no timeline. We want to make sure we have a fair and open process,” he said at a fundraising luncheon.
That statement came 12 days after Goodell had said a ruling was “coming soon.”
“We are obviously being very thorough and want to make sure we consider all aspects of his appeal,” he said. “We will make a decision as quickly as possible.”
CBS reported that a “small handful of influential owners” want to see Brady’s suspension stay at four games.
